I’ve been looking at a 15 gauge finish nailer, Bostitch seems to make a great one, as well as Hitachi. However I like the Oil-less Bostitch. So my ? Is, what angle the FN or DA (25 or ~35 degree). Anyone have any experience with one or both angle style nailers? Any issues trying to find the nails for one or the other?

I contacted Bostitch, and they stated that their was no difference in the nail head between the FN and DA, that they manufacture. However there seems to be variations among manufactures. I’m going to try and do some more research, n list finding here, so that others will have some information. There’s really some confusion among people on these 15 gauge nailers.

Bostitch also stated that they just came out with them hitting the shelves end of 2012 & beginning of 2013, there was an Oring production issue, but that has since been fixed.

From what I’ve been reading, Bostitch and older Makita use the 25deg. I’m not for sure if the industry is slowly moving to 34deg. I was going to pick up a Bostitch FN local, but not for sure if it will be phased out. With a bigger selection of 34° nails, maybe ordering Bostitch DA is the way to go?

It’d be used for house work, as well as woodworking…

Looking yesterday, I have noticed some head differences with the manufactures.

Anyone have any positive or negative experience with the 34~36° or 25° nailers or nails?

Senco and Porter Cable are better Guns. IMO I’ve been using them for years. I have heard the Bostitch piston will bend when it hits a nail or stud guard.

The difference in guns are they are designed for different jobs, it’s a preference thing. The only thing you need to figure out is what you are using it for. They are tools for Finish Carpenters and Cabinet makers. just like a Framing Guns are for Framers.

The 34 Degs. is a steeper pitch so you can nail into the 2×4 easier on a Base board or crown molding, etc. Company’s design things based off feedback from contractors and professionals.

I am just a hobbyist and don’t do a lot of finish nailing. I bought a Harbor Freight 15 ga nailer – 34 deg. I haven’t had any problems. In fact, a friend borrowed it to put down baseboards in his house. Pretty economical gun for occasional use.

I have found no appreciable difference in the function of the heads, though their geometry may differ slightly.

An important note on the chisel points, on 15 ga nailers they are collated so the cutting action of the points is perpendicular to the gun magazine. This minimizes splitting when the long axis of the nailer is oriented with the long axis of a board. This way the chisel points cut the wood fibers rather than wedging them apart. This is especially important to keep in mind near the end of pieces of wood.

Nailing solid wood edging to ply wood if the gun is held perpendicular rather than parallel, the nails will tend to curl up and blow out of the plys.

Note that the nails for smaller ga finish nailers have cutting action in line with the long axis of the guns, so the opposite applies. 16 ga and smaller nailers should be held perpendicular to the grain when nailing, for best results.

The moral, know your chisel point orientations and use them to your benefit.

Ignoring this basic information and holding nailers improperly during nailing is the most common mistake I see in trim carpentry.

b2rtch ““Nailing solid wood edging to ply wood if the gun is held perpendicular rather than parallel, the nails will tend to curl up and blow out of the plys.”

could explain that “better”?”

The nail tips or point, is a two faced chisel, with a flat point (instead of a more rounded center point, or multiple edge chisel point). If that flat is parallel to the wood fibers or plywood layers, you have a chance of the nail tip acting as a one sided wedge (usually due to the wood grain/fiber being more dense on one side of the 15 gauge nail) and turning or guiding the tip to one side.

Hope that helps…

I didn’t intend to confuse people with this post, I was just trying to have a reference to the confusion already out there.

I have a 15ga senco. It does what I want it to. Uses DA nails. Never had a problem.

Last year, I saw 2 boxes of bostitch nails at a flea market They are aluminum…1.5” and 2”...about 3500 nails per box. I do a lot of exterior work, and always use stainless nails, but aluminum would work well outside, so I bought them for a decent price…not realizing that they are FN, and didn’t fit in my gun. If there is anyone reading this message that would like to buy them, that would be great.Message me if you’re interested.